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The Relative Concentration of Interaction—A Proposal for an Integrated Understanding of Centrality and Central Places

Author

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  • Daniel Knitter

    (Department of Geography, Physical Geography, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Str. 14, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Oliver Nakoinz

    (Johanna Mestorf Academy, Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Leibnizstraße 3, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

Abstract

The importance of a place can be assessed via an analysis of its centrality. However, although central place research has a long history, there is no generally accepted theoretical base, leading to continuous debates about the core elements of centrality and those features that ultimately constitute the centrality of a place. We propose a generalized definition that understands centrality as the relative concentration of interaction. Using this definition, we are able to integrate various social, cultural, and natural aspects in the analysis of a central place and its landscape setting. We present a semi-quantitative method to assess the actual and potential centrality and that enables us (a) to draw conclusions about the type and characteristics of central places, (b) to investigate their development throughout time, and (c) to compare them to each other. We sketch the application of the method using two exemplary sites: the Iron Age site Heuneburg and the Roman palace Felix Romuliana

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Knitter & Oliver Nakoinz, 2018. "The Relative Concentration of Interaction—A Proposal for an Integrated Understanding of Centrality and Central Places," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:7:y:2018:i:3:p:86-:d:159115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John B. Parr, 1978. "Models of the Central Place System: A More General Approach," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 15(1), pages 35-49, February.
    2. John B. Parr, 1995. "Alternative Approaches to Market-area Structure in the Urban System," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 32(8), pages 1317-1329, August.
    3. Yan, Xiangbin & Zhai, Li & Fan, Weiguo, 2013. "C-index: A weighted network node centrality measure for collaboration competence," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 223-239.
    4. Peter J. Taylor & Michael Hoyler & Raf Verbruggen, 2010. "External Urban Relational Process: Introducing Central Flow Theory to Complement Central Place Theory," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(13), pages 2803-2818, November.
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    2. Katerina Ragkou, 2018. "The Economic Centrality of Urban Centers in the Medieval Peloponnese: Late 11th–Mid-14th Centuries," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Giorgos Papantoniou & Giorgos Bourogiannis, 2018. "The Cypriot Extra-Urban Sanctuary as a Central Place: the Case of Agia Irini," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-27, November.
    4. Chiara Garau & Giulia Desogus & Mauro Coni, 2019. "Fostering and Planning a Smart Governance Strategy for Evaluating the Urban Polarities of the Sardinian Island (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-24, September.
    5. Athanasios K. Vionis & Giorgos Papantoniou, 2019. "Central Place Theory Reloaded and Revised: Political Economy and Landscape Dynamics in the Longue Durée," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, February.
    6. Anna-Katharina Rieger, 2018. "‘Un-Central’ Landscapes of NE-Africa and W-Asia—Landscape Archaeology as a Tool for Socio-Economic History in Arid Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-29, December.

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